<b>Musharraf signs "national reconciliation" ordinance</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday signed a "national reconciliation" ordinance, paving the way for a power-sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Heheheh why deal is only with BB not with Nawaz. What is this nonsense called 'National Reconciliation'.
<b>Pakistan OKs vote, but results must wait</b> <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->SLAMABAD, Pakistan - On the eve of Pakistan's presidential vote, the country's highest court ruled Friday that <b>no winner can be declared until it decides whether President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is an eligible candidate.</b> Musharraf pushed toward an alliance with a former premier signing an amnesty clearing her of corruption charges. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party said it was still waiting for formal notification about the amnesty, but welcomed what many saw as the culmination of long-running power-sharing negotiations.
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<b>Mutilated bodies of 3 hostage soldiers found </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sources said the soldiersâ bodies had been thrown near a road in Jandola early on Thursday morning. Quoting eyewitnesses, they said the soldiersâ limbs and heads had been chopped off.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gem from TFT and Urdu press of Pukeistan
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Revenge of gay madrassa teacher</b>
According to Daily Pakistan, in Madrassa Dar ul Ulem a teacher Khalik ur Rehman, along with his friends, attacked a young man Aslam Amir, with a knife and injured him. According to Amir, he tried to stop Khaliq ur Rehman from teasing boy students and sodomising them which is why he wanted to kill him.
<b>We are international beggars </b>
In daily Express, columnist Abbas Athar wrote that we raise the slogan of a sovereign Pakistan in the heat of emotions, but we forget that we are international beggars, and beggars have no choice. Our political leaders always come into politics with the consent of America, Britian, certain Arab countries and the army. We canât change reality by hiding them. Benazir Bhuttoâs only fault is that she accepts these harsh realities.
<b>Turkey divided over hijab </b>
Tanvir Qaiser Shahid wrote in Daily Pakistan magazine that army generals didnât attend the oath ceremony of Abdullah Gul, the newly elected president of Turkey. The reason for the armyâs anger was Abdullah Gulâs wife, Khairunisaâs, wearing of hijab. The daughters of Tayyab Ardegan were not given admission in Turkish universities because of wearing hijab, so they had to take admission in American universities.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><i>* Falls $200 million short of $3.163 billion target</i>
KARACHI : The unrealistic export targets set by government were again exposed during the first two months (July-August) of current financial year as the total export fell by over seven percent from their set target during the said period.
<b>In absolute term, export fell short of $200 million during July-August of the current fiscal to $2.963 billion as against the target of $3.163 billion set for the period under review.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>PESHAWAR - One security personnel was killed, eight were injured and 28 other were abducted by alleged militants in two violent incidents occurred at different places of North Waziristan Agency.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Musharraf is President</b>
* Wins 252 votes in Islamabad, 33 in Quetta, 39 in Karachi, 44 in Lahore, 17 in Peshawar
* Justice ® Wajeeh gets three votes
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>US greets Pakistan, but not Musharraf</b> link
WASHINGTON: The United States on Saturday congratulated Pakistan on the presidential election, while adding that it looked forward to the official announcement of the result. The short two-line statement was careful to avoid President Pervez Musharrafâs name, and did not directly express any word of satisfaction or pleasure over his runaway victory. The State Department, despite several calls by Pakistani correspondents, failed to come up with a response. Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman said, âPakistan is an important partner and ally to the United States and we congratulate them for todayâs election. We look forward to the electoral commissionâs announcement and to working with all of Pakistanâs leaders on important bilateral, regional and counter-terrorism issues.â khalid hasan
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<b>Musharraf sweeps boycotted Pakistan poll</b> <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Gen. Pervez Musharraf won an overwhemingly majority in a presidential <b>election boycotted by nearly the entire opposition </b>Saturday, and attention shifted to Supreme Court deliberations on whether he can claim victory.
Opposition parties that snubbed the vote claimed it was undemocratic and unconstitutional for the U.S.-backed general, who seized power in a 1999 coup, to run while still army chief
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According to Maharaj Premchand Haimchand, an expert in astrology from Sanghar, the forthcoming changes will especially affect the rulers of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Though he said he was not in a position to say exactly what would happen, Haimchand added, "From past experiences, something new will happen to South Asia."
<b>"Shani (the god of Saturday's star), the fifth star of the constellation Leo, is in the same position as it was in 1947, in 1977 and now in 2007. This star is in the same position every 30 years," the Daily Times quoted him as saying.
Suriya (the Sun) changes position every 27 days, and on October 17, it will change to its new position. Shani will also move and be in the same position as it was 30 years ago, Haimchand added.
Claiming that many of his predictions have come true in the past, Haimchand, who records all of his predications, said, "In 1947 when Shani was in position, the subcontinent divided and hundreds were killed in riots." Asian countries experience change with the movement of Shani."
He further recalled that the first general elections held under a civilian rule in Pakistan took place in 1977, and Zulfikar Bhutto's PPP won most of the seats in Parliament but, after charges of fraud, he agreed to hold a new election. Before it could be held, the army staged a coup and ousted Bhutto. </b>
He also predicted that the prices of "white coloured commodities, including cotton, flour, rice and sugar" would rise. (ANI)
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âRepairing Indo-Pak ties â Musharrafâs major accomplishmentâ
* Cohen says Indo-Pak composite dialogue initiated due to compulsions on both sides
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: In dealing with India, President Pervez Musharraf has travelled farther than any of his predecessors. When he leaves power, this will be considered one of his major accomplishments, according to South Asia expert Stephen Cohen.
In an analysis of the general situation in Pakistan, Cohen, who is head of South Asia studies at the Brookings Institution, considers the development unfortunate since Pakistanâs military effectiveness on the Afghan border depends on a truce between India and Pakistan. The ultimate strategic balance in South Asia will likely be determined by Pakistanâs relations with India, not its strained ties with Afghanistan, he believes. He calls President Musharrafâs cooperation in curbing the radicalism ânotoriously unevenâ.
Composite dialogue follows compulsions: The Brookings expert maintains that the âcomposite dialogueâ between the two neighbours was initiated not out of a change of heart, but because of compulsions on both sides. Indian officials want to resolve the Kashmir problem and move on to a grander stage as a leading Asian power. Pakistan, is looking for âface savingâ arrangements that will allow the country to devote more of its energies to domestic reform and the growing internal threat from militant Islamists. Yet, both Pakistani and Indian leaders retain âfallback positionsâ that would permit a relatively easy exit should the process falter or become politically embarrassing, he points out. This does not suggest a lack of sincerity on their part, but rather an absence of confidence in the intentions of the other side. The end result is that the process still remains fragile, and a few adverse developments, such as an assassination or a series of terrorist attacks, could easily lead to another armed confrontation.
Cohen believes that the present situation can turn into a âslippery slope,â where despite the presence of strong complementarities, political compulsions could end up forcing both sides to end the dialogue. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has passed to those whose views towards Pakistan are not known. In Pakistan the religious political parties will oppose normalisation with India. A wave of terrorist attacks within India carries the potential of escalation to crisis levels. Pakistan could grow increasingly impatient with the lack of Indian flexibility in response to its proposals on Kashmir and political pressure may force Islamabad to reinitiate âdiplomatic brinkmanshipâ. New Delhiâs efforts to increase its already substantial presence in Afghanistan could lead Islamabad to once again look the other way with regard to infiltration into Kashmir. Already, India alleges that infiltration from the Pakistani side of Kashmir is on the rise. The current situation, therefore, presents a limited window of opportunity, he cautions.
<b>Pagaro becomes daddy to twins </b> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->KARACHI: The <b>78-year-old spiritual leader </b>of the Hurs and PML-F chief,<b> Pir Pagaro, became the father of twins on Monday. Interestingly, Pagaroâs elder son Raja Saeenâs wife also gave birth to a girl on the same day</b>. According to Kingri House sources, his third wife gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy. The boy baby was named Naimatullah Rashdi and the girl Aisha. The motherâs first child was Amna who was born some two years ago. With this addition to this family, <b>Pagaro has become the father of a total of eight children, four sons and four daughters. His eldest son is Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi alias Raja Saeen (57 years), the second one is Pir Ali Goher Shah Rashdi and the third is Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi alias Younus Saeen</b>. razzak abro<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nareshji,
Celebration time in Pakistan. <!--emo&:bhappy--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/b_woot.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='b_woot.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <b>Four days of battles between militants, Pakistani troops leave up to 250 dead </b>
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, Oct 9 (AP) Four days of fierce fighting between militants and security forces near the Afghan border have killed as many as 250 people, the army said Tuesday<b>. Airstrikes hit Epi village bazaa</b>r in North Waziristan tribal region Tuesday afternoon, and more than 50 militants and civilians were killed and scores more were wounded, said resident Noor Hassan. <b>''The bombing destroyed many shops and homes,'' Hassan said. ''We are leaving.'' Twelve huge explosions rocked the village and bombs also hit the nearby village of Hader Khel, he said</b>. Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that military aircraft struck ''one or two places'' near the town of Mir Ali and there were reports that about 50 militants were killed. Also Tuesday, a roadside bomb killed two soldiers, the army said. Epi lies about four kilometres from Mir Ali. Fighting broke out in North Waziristan Saturday after roadside bomb hit a truckload of paramilitary troops, sparking clashes. The bodies of dozens of soldiers have been recovered from deserted areas of the region, fleeing residents said. Before Tuesday's airstrikes, the army had reported that battles have killed 150 fighters and 45 soldiers since Saturday. About 12-15 troops are missing. Another 50 militants and 20 soldiers had been wounded. Security forces have rejected a cease-fire proposed by the militants and will ''continue punitive action till complete peace is restored'' in the area, an army statement said. (FirstPosted @ 10:28 PST, Updated@ 19:00 PST)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seems we have missed this news item - Haridas' Daughter has no faith in the Pakistani Army to protect her <b>as Pakistan has now <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>ascended to the level of Afghanistan!</span></b>
<i>* Spokesman stresses PPPâs constitutional right to seek security</i>
<b>WASHINGTON : PPP chief Benazir Bhutto is likely to acquire a foreign security detail</b> as President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has done, since threats to her life have assumed worrisome proportions with her return to Pakistan just 9 days away.
If the PPP leader does decide to obtain additional security from abroad, apart from the security that the Pakistan government would make available to her, it will be through a contract with a private Western company, of which there are many in business. Many government leaders from developing countries have opted for such arrangements in order to strengthen their security and personal safety. Bhutto, whose life was threatened by Al Qaeda last week, has said that she is not afraid as she believes that life and death are in the hands of God. However, her family, close friends and political associates are said to be of the view that in her case the policy of âerring on the side of cautionâ would be the most advisable. Pakistan today, they say, is a dangerous place and not quite the country she left when she chose exile.
<b>Constitutional right : A PPP spokesman in Islamabad said, âThe party was seeking security measures, as it was its constitutional right to do so.â khalid hasan</b>
<b>Pak MPs gifted 100 condoms each</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Islamabad, October10: Male members of Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate received a unique gift from the ministry of population welfare ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr - a packet of 100 condoms.
The move, however, earned the ire of some <b>opposition parliamentarians, who have "taken it as an insult</b>" and plan to take it up with National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussian, the Daily Times reported on Wednesday.
The distribution of the condoms was part of a <b>"bid to encourage population control at the top level", </b>the report said.
"Yes, the condom packs have been distributed among the male parliamentarians. Each MP has been gifted a pack of condoms containing 100 condoms," an unnamed official of the ministry of population welfare was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
A PPP lawmaker, who did not want to be named, said he would take up the matter with the Speaker and "file a privilege motion if need be".
<b>"We are all educated people and know the benefits of contraceptives, but this move is meant to humiliate the MPs," </b>the parliamentarian said.
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<b>Bhutto refuses to delay return</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The party of former premier Benazir Bhutto rejected a call Thursday from the president to delay her return from exile, insisting she would land in Pakistan as planned next week to campaign for January elections.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â <b>Army fumes at BBC interview of abducted soldiers</b>
PESHAWAR: The chief military spokesman has reacted angrily to a BBC report in which three army officers held hostage by the Taliban in South Waziristan were interviewed. âThis is an attempt to carry out propaganda,â Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad told Daily Times on Thursday after militants led by Baitullah Mehsud allowed the BBC access to the three officers for the first time since they and some <b>250 other soldiers </b>were abducted on August 30. BBC reporter Haroon Rashid wrote that the officers<b> âdid not want to talk but were pressurised by the Taliban to do soâ. Gen Arshad warned Pakistani journalists against âbecoming spokesmen of militants</b>â. He said the Taliban wanted to use the interview as a propaganda tool to press the government to meet the militantsâ demands for the soldiersâ release. <b>Commanding officer Lt-Col Zafar, Major Ateeq Azam and Lieutenant Farakh Mansoor were the three officers the BBC interviewed</b>. Maj Ateeq said he hoped the military command would do something for their release. Col Zafar said he was leading a convoy taking rations to soldiers in Ladah from Shakai when tribesmen stopped the convoy. âWe were not going for a military operation,â he added. A spokesman for Baitullah said the government is showing little urgency in securing the release of the captured soldiers. iqbal khattak
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Proud Paki Army had done these type of interviews in 1971, Kargi and now. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
This is a big catch. Last I read that these 250 claim is bogus only 30 brave Army soldiers were abducted, now we are back to 250.
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